Verboden Vondelpark

Again I take you with us, dear reader, on our adventure in the city of Amsterdam. Weather was brewing about the time we made our way to the safety of another famed museum, the Rijksmuseum. This museum was one which had been closed for more than a decade for renovation, it's paintings spread across the world in the meantime. While we walked the halls, the wind did gust and howl, a windstorm of hurricane force knocking at the front door.

The Night Watch, a grand work by Rembrandt, a master of light and shadows, prominent in a great hall of the Rijksmuseum. It may look quite small beside me, dear reader, but let me assure you my placement in this photograph does not do the work justice. I am a very small sea mammal, and my position has skewed your perspective, for which I offer my profound apologies.

I did also wish to show the works of Vermeer that I humbly gazed upon, yet no photograph would do that dear master of light justice, so of that I refrained.

Then! Shock and surprise as we left the calm, controlled and regulated air and environment of that place of great masters. The great winds had left our Amsterdam in a state of disarray. Trees uprooted, trams out of service from downed power lines. No trains at all! Unfortunate, tragic deaths by that cruel mistress nature. Even the Vondelpark had been sealed.

As we traveled by foot the long path back to Boogaard's, we did pause and pay our respects to Miss Frank.

Then, to calm this storm-weathered seal's mood after such an eventful day, some chocolates are certainly the treat to have.

Tomorrow I have a change of scenery to share with you, dear readers. Another adventure, another journey, and the return to the City of Love.

Van Goghing to the Museum

Once upon a Dutch morning, I accompanied my mentor to the Van Gogh Museum. Quite the collection, literally hundreds of the artist's pieces in a single place. 

Though I do not know in detail my personal origins, perhaps there is some likeness between I and this self portrait that did catch my eye?

His Sunflowers, of which many crowded around, brought to me brightness to my briney heart.

And this, dear reader, is a work of which was forgotten and alone for many years in an attic, thought for most of its life to be the work of another. It has found its way home and is displayed now with its brethren to be admired in its rightful place.

A painters soul is expressed in his palette, simply a work of art itself with the oils left behind by the artist's brushstroke.

And now this, one of my favorites by the master, Irises in a vase, a blue which reminds me of the sea from where I come.

My adventure shall continue on the morrow, more of the finest art, and some of wicked weather. Rest assured, if you have seen news of storms, all is well with this pinniped and his traveling companions. All will be described anon.

High Speed Sitting

We are now in Amsterdam my dear readers. By rail we traveled, my mentor leading me through security with ease to get on the Eurostar, first to Brussels for a connecting train, which then proceeded us at speed to Amsterdam herself.

It may not look like much, dear reader, but that darkness in which I take this mirrored photograph is the Chunnel. Oh that high speed connection between the UK and mainland Europe, through which we speed beneath the English Channel.

Another destination, another accommodation. This time, an apartment style lodging on Langestraat, Boogaard's.

Cozy, with a lovely street view.

And so, at Museumplein begins our taste of Amsterdam! I have much art to share with you, dear reader, and some wild weather.

Once Upon a Seal

It was a lovely day in London, dear reader. Autumn sun and cool breezes as I accompanied my mentor to Leicester square. After the purchase of tickets for the show at the Phoenix theatre later, we continued on to the National Portrait Gallery.

Though I much enjoyed the classic Victorian era portraiture, I was enthralled by the contemporary portrait artist Yeo.  Then, it was on to the National Gallery itself.

Always I am drawn to the Van Goghs.

This is another of the great artists works, near the end of his life. It was after this that the security did inform me seals are not allowed personal photography in the National Gallery.

In the early afternoon, after some luncheon and a break, we then caught the matinee performance of Once. 

A tale of unrequited love and music, it is a tale that touched my sea mammal heart. I am, dear reader, an undeniable romantic. My mentor does not discourage this. There will always be a place for romantics in the world, says she. Such ended our last full day in London, and Britain itself.

Nice to See You Again, Mondrian

As promised, dear reader, our recollection of our London adventure begins. As it has been so long and you have waited so patiently, I will not extend that pause, and shall start my narration promptly.

From my previous entries you must be aware of my passion for fine art. We begin this trip much as our last, at the Tate Modern museum, that transformed power plant on the far end of the Millenium Bridge.

Look up, a Calder mobile, so often overlooked.

Minimalists many, a lovely late Mondrian caught my eye.

Next, a museum close to my heart, of course, the Natural History Museum.

The extinct Dodo,

The complete fossilized skeleton of a Diplodocus.

And imagine my joy of finding some lovely representatives of some very large cousins.

As well as some somewhat smaller cousins.

Being a civilized seal, the most appropriate dinner at the end of such a lovely day is fish and chips at a traditional British pub, the Hereford Arms.

My words may be brief today, dear reader, but it is not lack of passion, simply some of that cruel mistress jet lag. And now, dear reader, I must sign off. Tomorrow is a day certainly of more art, and perhaps performance.

Is This Thing On?

Hello dear readers. It is I again, your humble pinniped servant and world traveler, Surf.

It has been some time since our last adventure. Let me adjust my settings of photographs and we shall discuss my loud, untimely disappearance.

This sign says "Arrivals" dear reader, I do apologize for the blur. My mentor does still have much to teach me.

Ah, yes. Here we are, a familiar hotel in a familiar borough of London. I cannot entirely explain my absence, only to say I did take the advice of my mentor and followed the passion in my briney heart. A seal of honor will never divulge certain things. What is important is that I have become wiser in matters of the heart, my grand paramour has set me free and I have once again joined my mentor in her travels.

Our adventures shall begin again on the morrow!